Oral hygiene device

ABSTRACT

An oral hygiene device for cleaning the teeth and massaging the gums including a brush member and a fluid discharge member having a nozzle wherein both members can be used separately or in combination. The brush member is pivotally connected to a handle for movement between a first position adjacent the nozzle and a second position wherein the brush is disposed adjacent the handle.

United States Patent i l 1 I 1,626,310 4/1927 Tipton 132/84 A 2,000,9105/1935 Appel et a1. 401/284 X 2,005,729 6/1935 Doyle 401/284 X 2,491,20712/1949 Preble et a1. 132/84 B 2,986,766 6/1961 Landis 401/284 X3,273,189 9/1966 Levinson et al... 128/62 A X 3,465,751 9/1969 Powers128/229 X Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorneys-Charles R. Mirandaand Burtsell J. Kearns ABSTRACT: An oral hygiene device for cleaning theteeth and massaging the gums including a brush member and a fluiddischarge member having a nozzle wherein both members can be usedseparately or in combination. The brush member is pivotally connected toa handle for movement between a first position adjacent the nozzle and asecond position wherein the brush is disposed adjacent the handle.

ORAL HYGIENE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention isdirected to new and useful improvements in oral hygiene devices and moreparticularly to such devices having a brush means and a fluid dischargemeans.

Oral hygiene devices that include an elongated tube having a dischargenonle at one end thereof to direct fluid against the gums andinterdental areas of the mouth are well known. This fluid dischargedevice can be used to either pulsate fluid onto the gums or to provide acontinuous flow of fluid into the mouth. A pulsation of fluid onto thegums at selected frequencies will periodically deflect the gum tissuethereby stimulating the blood circulation within the gums much the sameas a massage. A continuous nonpulsating discharge of fluid can be usedfor general mouthwashing purposes such as gargling or rinsing the teethand gums.

It is also known to combine a fluid discharge device with a toothbrushto permit a discharge of fluid into the mouth dur-. ing brushing of theteeth. As the toothbrush member cleans the teeth the fluid output fromthe discharge member concurrently massages the gums or rinses the mouthand teeth. A fluid discharge member which delivers pulsations of fluidcan also be used to remove food particles that adhere to the teeth andto clean the teeth. It will be appreciated that when brush means andfluid discharge means are combined in one device for dual functioningthereof the beneficial effects of each means can be achievedsimultaneously.

In certain oral hygiene devices having this dual function the brushmember and fluid discharge member are inseparably combined whereby therespectivev members can be used together or the brush can be usedwithout an accompanying discharge of fluid. However, due to the integralcombination of components the user cannot disassociate the brush fromthe fluid discharge member for separate use of the discharge member.This is an inconvenience especially when a particle of food or othermaterial is wedged between the teeth so as to be inaccessible to thebristles of the toothbrush. Under these conditions a fluid dischargemember disassociated from a brush is capable of being easily manipulatednear the particle to dislodge it from the teeth with a discharge offluid.

In other dual function oral hygiene devices a toothbrush is detachablycombined with a fluid discharge member. However, under the knownarrangement the brush must be physically removed from the device inorder to permit separate use of the discharge member. The necessity toremove and reattach the brush member is an inconvenience especially whenthe brushing and fluid discharge functions are being used in combinationand it is desired to momentarily use the fluid discharge memberseparately. Unless the brushing or fluid discharge components can bereadily associated and disassociated the user will often neglect to takeadvantage of the provision for separate use of the fluid dischargemember.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel oral hygienedevice.

Another object is to provide a novel oral hygiene device having a brushmeans combined with a fluid discharge means.

Another object is to provide a novel oral hygiene device wherein novelmeans are provided for combining the brush means with the fluiddischarge means whereby the latter can be used separately or incombination.

A further object is to provide a novel oral hygiene device wherein thebrush means is pivotally connected to a fluid discharge means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a novel oralhygiene device comprising a brush means and a fluid discharge meansincluding a nozzle at the discharge end thereof. In one embodiment thebrush member is pivotally connected to the fluid discharge member formovement in one direction to a first the user to place only the fluiddischarge means into the mouth.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present I inventionwill appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawingwherein one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view, partly shown in section, of an oral hygienedevice which incorporates one embodiment of the present invention andshows the brush means positioned for use adjacent the nozzle of thefluid discharge means;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the brush member positioned awayfrom the fluid discharge nozzle;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing for more detaileddescription of the present invention, an oral hygiene deviceincorporating an embodiment thereof is generally indicated by thereference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. Oral hygiene device 10 (FIG. 1) includesa fluid discharge means 11 and a brush means 12 associated with a handle13.

Handle 13 (FIG. 1) is made from any suitable material such aspolystyrene or polypropylene and is formed with substantially parallelforward and rear end portions 14 and 15 and an intermediate portion 16which is inclined to both of said end portions 14 and 15.

Fluid discharge means 11 (FIG. 1) includes a borelike passageway 17 inhandle 13 extending longitudinally thereof between forward and rear endwalls 18 and 19 respectively (FIG. 2). The fluid discharge means furtherincludes an elongated tubular conduit 20 (FIG. 2) provided with an inputend 21 of reduced diameter that is inserted in the opening of passageway17 at forward end wall 18 of handle 13 and secured thereto in anysuitable manner such as by a suitable adhesive. In a similar manner afluid input extension conduit 22 (FIG. 2) having an output end 23 ofreduced diameter is inserted into passageway 17 at rear end wall 19 ofsaid handle and secured thereto. Conduit 20 further includes a nozzle 24(FIG. 2) provided at the discharge end thereof and which nozzle 24 isbent approximately with respect to the longitudinal axis of conduit 20.

Brush means 12 (FIG. 2) comprises a stem 25 made from any suitablematerial such as polystyrene or polypropylene and includes a bristlemounting surface 26 at the forward end thereof with bristle tufts 27provided thereon. An opening 28 (FIG. I) is provided in bristle mountingsurface 26 and extends through to the opposite surface 29 of stem 25.

Fluid-deflecting means for purposes to be hereinafter explained isprovided at opening 28 on bristle mounting surface 26 and comprise ahollow cap member 30 (FIG. I) which supports a bristle tuft 27a. Cap 30includes a floor 3i (FIGA) and fluid outlet holes 32 and 33 (FIG. 2)provided in spaced sidewalls 34 and 35 (FIG. 2) thereof.

As mentioned it is an object of this invention to provide a novel oralhygiene device wherein a brush means is pivotally connected for movementwith respect to a fluid discharge means. To this end a hinge means 48(FIGS. 2 and 5) is provided to interconnect handle 13 to brush l2. Hingemeans 48 (FIG. 5) comprises a pair of spaced pivot projections 36 and 37(FIGS. 3 and 5) formed on handle 13 at forward end wall 18 and a boss 38formed on end 39 of stem 25 inserted between the spaced projections 36and 37. A pivot pin 40 (FIGS. 3 and extends through the interengagedboss 38 and pivot projections 36 and 37 to permit pivotal movement ofstem 25 with respect to handle 13 toward or away from discharge nozzle24 (FIG. 2).

Restraining means for holding brush 12 in position adjacent to nozzle 24comprise a U-shaped groove 41 (FIG. 3) provided on surface 29 of stem 25near opening 28. Groove 41 (FIG. 3) comprises spaced resilient sidewalls42 and 43 which sidewalls have slightly concave inner surfaces 44 and 45(FIG. 4) for clasping engagement with the outer surface of conduit 20. I

In using the combined brushing the fluid discharge functions of oralhygiene device extension conduit 22 (FIG. 1) of fluid discharge means 11is connected in any suitable manner, such as by a flexible junction tube46 (FIG. 1) to a supply of pulsating or continuously flowing fluid.Brush 12 is then pivotally moved about hinge 48 to a first limitposition adjacent nozzle 24 (FIGS. 1 and 4) wherein resilient sidewalls42 and 43 (FIG. 4) engages and clasp against the outer surface ofconduit thereby holding brush 12 in position adjacent noule 24. With thebrush thus held in place (FIG. 1) nozzle 24 is in communication withopening 28 in stem and fluid entering tube 46 passes through extensionconduit 22 into passageway 17 (FIG. 1) of handle 13 for delivery toconduit 20 where the fluid is discharged trough nozzle 24. Thedischarged fluid enters cap 30 (FIG. 1) impinging against floor 31 andexits through outlet holes 32 and 33 for dispersion through bristletufts 27. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, outlet holes32 and 33 (FIG. 1) can be oriented to obtain any desired direction offluid efflux from cap 30.

If desired, the brush means 12 can also be used in the first limitposition for brushing purposes only without any accompanying dischargeof fluid from the fluid discharge means I] merely by shutting off orotherwise disconnecting tube 46 from the fluid source.

When it is desired to use discharge means 11 without brush 12 the brushis rotated about hinge 48 to a second limit position, (FIG. 2) whereinbristles 27 are positioned adjacent portion 15 of handle 13 so that stem25 contacts a bottoming surface 47 of handle end portion 14. In thissecond limit position (FIG. 2) the user holds brush means 12 againstbottoming surface 47 of handle 13 as he manipulates fluid dischargemeans 11 in the mouth. Although brush 12 has been disclosed as thepivotally rotatable member it will be understood by those skilled in theart that pivotal means can be provided for pivotally moving the fluiddischarge means into selected positions with respect to a fixed brushmeans.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the advantages of the noveloral hygiene device 10 includes among other advantages the provision ofa brush means 12 which can be rotated about hinge 48 into or out ofposition adjacent nozzle 24 of a fluid discharge means to permitseparate or combined use of said means. A further advantage is that thebrush and fluid means remain intact with device 10 regardless of whetherthe combined or separate functions of brushing and fluid discharge arebeing used. In addition there is no need to detach or otherwise removethe brush means from the oral hygiene device and the user canconveniently change back and forth from combined use of the brush andfluid discharge means to individual use thereof.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been illustratedand described in detail it is to be expressly understood that theinvention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in thedesign and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as the same will now be understood by thoseskilled in the art.

What is claimed is 1. An oral hygiene device comprising,

a. fluid discharge means having a fluid outlet portion,

b. brush means, and

c. means pivotally interconnecting said brush means to said fluiddischarge means to permit rotational movement of said brush meansrelative to said fluid discharge means for rotating said brush means toa first limit position whereat said brush means and said fluid outletportion are disposed adjacent one another and to a second positionwhereat said brush means and fluid outlet portion are spaced away fromone another to facilitate independent use of said fluid outlet portionfor oral hygiene purposes.

d. said brush means including a stem having a first surface withbristles provided thereon and a second surface opposite to said firstsurface and having a through opening extending from said first surfaceto said second surface, and said fluid discharge means including anelongated conduit having a discharge nozzle at one end in communicationwith said opening when said brush member is pivotally rotated to saidfirst limit position.

2. The oral hygiene devices of claim I wherein said interconnectingmeans comprise hinge means.

3. The oral hygiene device of claim 2 wherein said fluid discharge meansinclude a support member and said brush means include a stem, said hingemeans comprising a stationary bearing portion provided on said supportmember and means connecting one end of said stem to said stationarybearing portion to permit said pivotal movement of said brush meansrelative to said discharge means.

4. The oral hygiene device of claim 3 wherein said bearing portionincludes a boss and said means connecting said stem to said bearingportion includes a pair of spaced projections at one end of said steminterengaged with said boss, and a pivot pin extending through said bossand spaced projections to permit said pivotal movement of said brushmeans with respect to said fluid discharge means.

5. The oral hygiene device of claim 1 wherein said brush member includesa cap formed over said through opening on said first surface forreceiving fluid from said nozzle, said cap having outlet holes and aninner surface for deflecting said received fluid through said outletholes to said bristles.

6. An oral hygiene device comprising,

a. a handle,

b. fluid discharge means secured to said handle and having fluid outletportion,

c. brush means including bristles, and

d. means interconnecting said brush means to said handle for pivotalmovement of said brush member between a first limit position and asecond limit position, said first position being a position whereat saidbrush member is disposed adjacent said fluid outlet portion tofacilitate use of said brush means and said fluid discharge meanstogether for oral hygiene purposes, and a second limit position being aposition whereat said brush member is spaced away from said fluid outletportion to facilitate independent use of said fluid discharge means fororal hygiene purposes.

7. An oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said handlecomprises an elongated member having a pair of spaced and substantiallyparallel opposite end portions joined by an intermediate portioninclined to both end portions, and wherein said bristles of said brushmeans are disposed adjacent said handle in an area defined by one ofsaid end portions of said handle and said intermediate portion when saidbrush member is pivotally moved to said second limit position.

8. An oral hygiene device as claimed in claim 6 wherein saidinterconnecting means comprise a hinge, connecting said brush means tosaid handle, said hinge including a bearing portion on said handle saidbrush means including pivot means mounted in said bearing portion topermit movement of said brush means relative to said discharge means.

9. The oral hygiene device of claim 6 wherein said fluid discharge meansincludes an elongated conduit extending from said handle, said brushmeans including a stem member. said combination further includingrestraining means on said stem for maintaining said stem adjacent saidfluid outlet porouter surface of said fluid discharge conduit when saidbrush 5 means is pivotally moved to said first limit position tomaintain said brush means in said position.

11. An oral hygiene device as claimed in claim wherein said stem isprovided with a through opening extending from said first surface tosaid second surface and said fluid discharge means comprises a conduithaving a discharge nozzle at one end in communication with said openingwhen said brush means is pivotally rotated to aid first position,further including a cap formed over said through opening on said firstsurface for receiving fluid from said nozzle, said cap having outletholes and an inner surface for deflecting said received fluid throughsaid outlet holes to said bristles.

' s a -r a: m

1. An oral hygiene device comprising, a. fluid discharge means having afluid outlet portion, b. brush means, and c. means pivotallyinterconnecting said brush means to said fluid discharge means to permitrotational movement of said brush means relative to said fluid dischargemeans for rotating said brush means to a first limit position whereatsaid brush means and said fluid outlet portion are disposed adjacent oneanother and to a second position whereat said brush means and fluidoutlet portion are spaced away from one another to facilitateindependent use of said fluid outlet portion for oral hygiene purposes.d. said brush means including a stem having a first surface withbristles provided thereon and a second surface opposite to said firstsurface and having a through opening extending from said first surfaceto said second surface, and said fluid discharge means including anelongated conduit having a discharge nozzle at one end in communicationwith said opening when said brush member is pivotally rotated to saidfirst limit position.
 2. The oral hygiene devices of claim 1 whereinsaid interconnecting means comprise hinge means.
 3. The oral hygienedevice of claim 2 wherein said fluid discharge means include a supportmember and said brush means include a stem, said hinge means comprisinga stationary bearing portion provided on said support member and meansconnecting one end of said stem to said stationary bearing portion topermit said pivotal movement of said brush means relative to saiddischarge means.
 4. The oral hygiene device of claim 3 wherein saidbearing portion includes a boss and said means connecting said stem tosaid bearing portion includes a pair of spaced projections at one end ofsaid stem interengaged with said boss, and a pivot pin extending throughsaid boss and spaced projections to permit said pivotal movement of saidbrush means with respect to said fluid discharge means.
 5. The oralhygiene device of claim 1 wherein said brush member includes a capformed over said through opening on said first surface for receivingfluid from said nozzle, said cap having outlet holes and an innersurface for deflecting said received fluid through said outlet holes tosaid bristles.
 6. An oral hygiene device comprising, a. a handle, b.fluid discharge means secured to said handle and having a fluid outletportion, c. brush means including bristles, and d. means interconnectingsaid brush means to said handle for pivotal movement of said brushmember between a first limit position and a second limit position, saidfirst position being a position whereat said brush member is disposedadjacent said fluid outlet portion to facilitate use of said brush meansand said fluid discharge means together for oral hygiene purposes, and asecond limit position being a position whereat said brush member isspaced away from said fluid outlet portion to facilitate independent useof said fluid discharge means for oral hygiene purposes.
 7. An oralhygiene device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said handle comprises anelongated member having a pair of spaced and substantially parallelopposite end portions joined by an intermediate pOrtion inclined to bothend portions, and wherein said bristles of said brush means are disposedadjacent said handle in an area defined by one of said end portions ofsaid handle and said intermediate portion when said brush member ispivotally moved to said second limit position.
 8. An oral hygiene deviceas claimed in claim 6 wherein said interconnecting means comprise ahinge, connecting said brush means to said handle, said hinge includinga bearing portion on said handle said brush means including pivot meansmounted in said bearing portion to permit movement of said brush meansrelative to said discharge means.
 9. The oral hygiene device of claim 6wherein said fluid discharge means includes an elongated conduitextending from said handle, said brush means including a stem member,said combination further including restraining means on said stem formaintaining said stem adjacent said fluid outlet portion when said stemis pivotally moved to said first limit position.
 10. An oral hygienedevice as claimed in claim 9 wherein said stem has a first surface withbristles provided thereon and a second surface opposite to said firstsurface, said restraining means including a clasp provided on saidsecond surface said clasp having spaced resilient sidewalls adapted togrip the outer surface of said fluid discharge conduit when said brushmeans is pivotally moved to said first limit position to maintain saidbrush means in said position.
 11. An oral hygiene device as claimed inclaim 10 wherein said stem is provided with a through opening extendingfrom said first surface to said second surface and said fluid dischargemeans comprises a conduit having a discharge nozzle at one end incommunication with said opening when said brush means is pivotallyrotated to said first limit position, said brush means further includinga cap formed over said through opening on said first surface forreceiving fluid from said nozzle, said cap having outlet holes and aninner surface for deflecting said received fluid through said outletholes to said bristles.